A 40-year-old Lake Leelanau man pleaded guilty in 13th Circuit Court Monday to a sexual assault charge and could spend up to 10 years in prison.

Appearing before Judge Thomas G. Power, the man agreed to plead guilty as part of a plea bargain arrangement to assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct with penetration. In exchange for the guilty plea, county Prosecutor Joseph T. Hubbell agreed to drop the original charge of second degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13 years old and to not seek prosecution under the habitual offender clause. Had the habitual offender clause been invoked, the defendant would have faced a maximum penalty of up to life in prison.

The man’s name is being withheld by the Enterprise to protect the identity of the victim.

According to the original felony complaint on file, on Nov. 13, 2006 the victim told a relative that the defendant touched her on an inappropriate part of the body and he made her do the same to him.

Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, July 2. He faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison.